Poetry

1st of September 
That’s how he remembers
The date they met 
How could he forget?
Her eyes 
Twinkle until they dry
This is the tale of Kamal & Sai

A house with a slanted roof
A sparse hall with a couch for two 
& a TV to watch movies curled, instead of the bedroom 
She tells him she wants two
He says “c’mon silly;
Why’d I want to sleep away from you?”
And so they’d speak 
In the hours past night 
Past the hours of the moon’s light 
About the perfect house 
How they’d divide the chores 
On who’s allowed to wash the blouse 
Or how they’d decorate the doors
It’d be perfect, they’d say
A home away from home for everyday

And so the weeks turned to months 
Sentences to words 
The good mornings turned to obligation 
As the world found its way to take root
“How can you say that?!”
“Fuck you”
“Are you coming over soon?”
“No, I have to clear my dues”
They visited the house less & less
In their imagination
The table for coffee now held dust 
The taps began to rust
As their world fell apart

Till one day, it had to die; 
This was the end of Kamal & Sai.

He still visits the house sometimes 
In between turns, trying to find 
The warmth that’d lull him to sleep
But the cuts run too deep 
This no longer was home 
But where else would he go?
He didn’t know 
As he sat on the couch
Alone
There was no Sai 
Only Kamal & I

And so they lived there 
Not in person, but when stuck in traffic 
Or brushing hairs 
A home away from home in their minds 
One where the world was a little more kind;
This was Kamal & Sai

And so the weeks turned away 
It was fine, but it wasn’t the same everyday 
She got busy often, and so did he 
Dates turned to weeks of nonchalant meals 
They say that time heals 
But it didn’t know what was wrong 
This was love, was it not? 
“I need some time alone”
“But we barely talk these days…”
Even for the best, the excitement runs dry
Even if they were Kamal & Sai